Sonoma County, CA Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- County Code Ch. 18, Art. III
- Clearance from road center
- No parking within 6 ft of center
- Intersection clearance
- 20 ft of crosswalk / stop / signal
- Possible time limits
- 15-min, 30-min, 1-hr, 2-hr (9am-6pm)
- Overnight restriction
- By Board resolution / posted zones
- Penalty process
- Civil penalty, Veh. Code Sec. 40200 et seq.
Summary
Street parking on County roads in unincorporated Sonoma County is governed by Sonoma County Code Chapter 18, Article III. Parking is generally allowed except where signs or curb paint prohibit it, near intersections and traffic controls, within six feet of the road center, and where the Board of Supervisors has designated no-parking or time-limited zones by resolution.
No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street, roadway or parking lot for more than a consecutive period of seventy-two (72) hours.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sonoma County Code Sec. 2 sets the general 'No Parking Areas' for County roads in the unincorporated area. No person may stop, park, or leave a vehicle standing within a divisional island, in any signed or red-curb no-parking area, on a railway track, anywhere parking would create a traffic hazard, within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection (where signed or red-painted), within 20 feet of the approach to a traffic signal or stop sign, or within six feet of the center of any road whether or not a centerline is painted.
Sec. unless otherwise posted). Sec. 5 authorizes the Board of Supervisors to establish 'No Parking' and 'No Overnight Parking' zones by resolution, effective only once signs or curb markings are in place. The Public Works Director (Sonoma Public Infrastructure) maintains and posts the official list of restricted-parking roads. Where time limits or zones are not posted, ordinary street parking is generally permitted, subject to the 72-hour maximum in Sec. 7 and the oversized-vehicle limits in Sec. 10.
Violations & Fines
Parking contrary to posted signs, curb paint, or a Board resolution is a parking violation processed as a civil penalty under California Vehicle Code Sec. 40200 et seq., with the penalty schedule set by Board of Supervisors resolution per Sec. 18-3.6. Vehicles parked in violation are subject to removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can't I park on a County road?
Are there time limits on County street parking?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
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